Dining napkin with special perforation feature

ABSTRACT

A napkin including a sheet having sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to dining napkins, whether cloth or paper, that have as a feature a portion defined by a perforation line so that the portion can be removed, if desired. Removal of a part of the napkin may be necessary or desirable for many reasons, including the need to cough, sneeze or remove food from the mouth in a discreet manner while dining, in order to take notes or make a drawing or sketch, or to retain a part of the napkin having text or graphical information pre-printed on it.

Perforated paper and cloth products are known. However, such products are typically provided with a perforation line intended to permit a single sheet of a predetermined length to be removed from a roll or fan-folded supply of sheets. It often happens that a paper or cloth sheet is necessary for sanitary or other purposes in situations where no paper or cloth is available except for the dining napkin in use by the diner. After use in a required manner for sanitary purposes, it is not appropriate to continue use of a conventional napkin. Similarly, a diner may need to make a written record of a fact, idea, etc. with no other material available to use. In such instances, a diner would likely prefer not to use a napkin already soiled with food to take away from a restaurant as a written record. If the napkin is paper, making a clean tear in the correct location may be difficult. If the napkin is cloth, it is ordinarily not possible to remove a part of the napkin, except by actually cutting off a piece. There exists, therefore, a need for a simple, effective way of removing a part of a napkin to, for example, take away from a restaurant or other dining location.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a napkin that includes a perforation line extending between opposite or adjacent sides that permits removal of a part of the napkin.

It is another object of the invention to provide a paper or cloth napkin that includes a perforation line extending between opposite or adjacent sides that permits text or graphical material to be placed on a part on one side of the perforation line to be removed.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiment disclosed below by providing napkin formed of a sheet having four sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the sheet is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and cloth.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one perforation line extends across the sheet between two opposing sides.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one perforation line extends across the sheet between two adjacent sides.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one perforation line is positioned whereby when separated the first and second napkin portions are of a different size.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one perforation line is positioned whereby when separated the first and second napkin portions are of a different shape.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the at least one perforation line is positioned whereby when separated the first and second napkin portions are of a different size and a different shape.

According to another embodiment of the invention, at least one of the first and second napkin portions contains text and/or graphical material.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a sheet is provided that is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of paper and cloth, having four sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions having a different size and shape for individual use.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a napkin is provided formed of a sheet having four sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use, wherein the at least one perforation line is positioned whereby when separated the first and second napkin portions are of a different size and a different shape, and further wherein at least one of the first and second napkin portions contains text and/or graphical material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some of the objects of the invention have been set forth above. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds when taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a paper or cloth napkin having a perforation line extending across a dimension between opposing sides for removing one portion of the napkin from the other portion;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a paper or cloth napkin having a perforation line extending across a dimension between adjacent sides for removing one portion of the napkin from the other portion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a paper or cloth napkin having a perforation line extending across a dimension between opposing sides for removing one portion of the napkin bearing text or graphical material from the other portion; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a paper or cloth napkin having a perforation line extending across a dimension between adjacent sides for removing one portion of the napkin bearing text or graphical material from the other portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND BEST MODE

Referring now specifically to the drawings, a napkin 10 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The napkin 10 as well as the other embodiments disclosed and claimed may be paper or cloth. The terms are used in a broad, generic sense and would include paper of whatever material, and cloth, whether woven, knitted or non-woven, such as spun-bonded or other fabric formation techniques. Similarly, the term “perforation” in its variant forms is used in a broad, generic sense and includes a linear weakness area formed by closely spaced holes, thinner or weaker material or otherwise.

As shown in FIG. 1, the napkin 10 is itself not created by removing material from a roll or stack of sheets that are severable along a perforation line. The napkin 10 includes sides 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D. The normal dimensions of the napkin 10 and the other disclosed embodiments are formed in the usual manner by cutting and slitting to size during a papermaking operation. As an additional step, a perforation line 12 is formed across a dimension of the napkin 10. In FIG. 1, the perforation line 12 extends across a dimension between opposing sides, for example, sides 10A, 10B, as shown. If, as would be typical, there is no reason to sever the napkin 10 along the perforation line 12, the napkin 10 is used in the normal manner without any effect on napkin's usefulness. If, however, the user desires to remove a part of the napkin 10, tearing along the perforation line 12 provides a first napkin portion 14 and a second napkin portion 16, either of which can be used for any purpose.

Referring now to FIG. 2, napkin 20 includes sides 20A, 20B, 20C and 20D. A perforation line 22 is formed diagonally across the napkin 20. The perforation line 22 extends between adjacent sides, for example, sides 20A, 20D, as shown. If, as would be typical, there is no need to sever the napkin 20 along the perforation line 22, the napkin 20 is used in the normal manner without any effect on the napkin's usefulness. If, however, the user desires to remove a part of the napkin 20, tearing along the perforation line 22 provides a first napkin portion 24 and a second napkin portion 26, either of which can be used for any purpose.

Referring now to FIG. 3, napkin 30 includes sides 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D. The normal dimensions of the napkin 30 and the other disclosed embodiments are formed in the usual manner by cutting and slitting to size during a papermaking operation. As an additional step, a perforation line 32 is formed across a dimension of the napkin 30. In FIG. 3, the perforation line 32 extends across a dimension between opposing sides, for example, sides 30A, 30B, as shown, forming a first napkin portion 34 and a second napkin portion 36. As shown, on the second napkin portion 36 text and/or graphical material is printed, and permits the user to separate and retain the second napkin portion 36. The text and/or graphical material can have any desired content, such as names of a couple getting married, the name and logo of a product, or a celebrity or athlete. The second napkin portion 36 can be used to obtain an autograph of the celebrity or athlete.

Referring now to FIG. 4, napkin 40 includes sides 40A, 40B, 40C and 40D. A perforation line 42 is formed diagonally across the napkin 40. The perforation line 42 extends between adjacent sides, for example, sides 40A, 40D, as shown, forming a first napkin portion 44 and a second napkin portion 46. As shown, on the second napkin portion 46 text and/or graphical material is printed, and permits the user to separate and retain the second napkin portion 46. The text and/or graphical material can have any desired content, such as names of a couple getting married, the name and logo of a product, or a celebrity or athlete. The second napkin portion 46 can be used to obtain an autograph of the celebrity or athlete.

In any of the above examples, the napkin may be any suitable size, and the two portions created by severing the napkin along the perforation line may be proportionally any suitable size. Many dining napkins are approximately square and 20 inches per side, yielding an area of about 400 square inches. By way of example, the diagonal perforation line of the napkin 20 of FIG. 2, 20 inches per side may bisect the adjacent sides 20A, 20D, resulting in a removable portion 26 having an area of 50 square inches.

A dining napkin with special perforation feature is described above. Various details of the invention may be changed without departing from its scope. Furthermore, the foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the invention and the best mode for practicing the invention are provided for the purpose of illustration only and not for the purpose of limitation—the invention being defined by the claims. 

1. A non-woven cloth napkin comprising: (a) a flat, unfolded, unstacked, sheet having four sides defining width and length dimensions; (b) at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two adjacent sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use; (c) wherein the at least one perforation line is positioned whereby when separated the first and second napkin portions are of a different size and a different shape; and (d) wherein the first and second napkin portions are blank and are characterized by an absence of graphical or textual material; (e) wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is thinner than the rest of the napkin; and (f) wherein the at least one perforation line extends across the sheet between two opposing sides.
 2. (canceled)
 3. A cloth napkin according to claim 1, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by closely spaced holes.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A cloth napkin according to claim 1, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is weaker than the rest of the napkin. 6.-8. (canceled)
 9. A non-woven cloth napkin comprising a flat, unfolded sheet having four sides defining width and length dimensions and at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two of the four sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions having a different size and shape for individual use, wherein the first and second napkin portions are blank and are characterized by an absence of graphical or textual material, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is thinner than the rest of the napkin, and wherein the at least one perforation line extends across the sheet between two opposing sides. 10-12. (canceled)
 13. A cloth napkin according to claim 9, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by closely spaced holes.
 14. A cloth napkin according to claim 9, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is thinner than the rest of the napkin.
 15. A cloth napkin according to claim 9, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is weaker than the rest of the napkin.
 16. (canceled)
 17. (canceled)
 18. A paper napkin comprising: (a) a flat, unfolded, unstacked, sheet having four sides defining width and length dimensions; (b) at least one perforation line extending across the sheet between two adjacent sides for permitting the napkin to be separated along the perforation line into first and second napkin portions for individual use; (c) wherein the at least one perforation line is positioned whereby when separated the first and second napkin portions are of a different size and a different shape; and (d) wherein the first and second napkin portions are blank and are characterized by an absence of graphical or textual material.
 19. A paper napkin according to claim 18, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by closely spaced holes.
 20. A paper napkin according to claim 18, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is thinner than the rest of the napkin.
 21. A paper napkin according to claim 18, wherein the at least one perforation line comprises an area of linear weakness formed by a material that is weaker than the rest of the napkin. 